Bryan Kohberger has officially admitted to the brutal killings of four college students in Idaho, bringing a chilling case closer to resolution. The 29-year-old entered a guilty plea just weeks before his trial was due to begin. The hearing, held Wednesday, marked an emotional moment for victims’ families and surviving roommates.
Kohberger had been charged with the November 2022 murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The victims were students at the University of Idaho. The incident happened in a shared off-campus house where all four were staying at the time.
Investigators believe the attack began on the upper floors, where Goncalves and Mogen were sleeping. Prosecutor Bill Thompson stated that Xana Kernodle, who lived on the second floor, was still awake when the killings started. She had reportedly just received a DoorDash delivery.
As Kohberger moved through the house, he is said to have encountered Xana and killed her with a large knife. Her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was asleep in her room. He was also killed during the attack.
Two other roommates survived. One of them told investigators she saw a masked man walk past her in the house late that night. That account became a key part of the early investigation.
The plea hearing was heavy with emotion. One of the surviving roommates was seen crying as she left the courtroom. Kohberger’s admission comes after months of legal delays, and just days before jury selection was scheduled to begin on August 4.
Prosecutors say the plea is a step toward justice. They met with the victims’ families last week to prepare them for the deal. They described the move as a sincere effort to spare the families a long and painful trial.
However, not all families agreed. Steve Goncalves, father of victim Kaylee Goncalves, strongly criticized the agreement. Speaking outside court, he said prosecutors “made a deal with the devil” and claimed the plea was rushed. He also shared with reporters that he felt like he had failed his daughter.
The Goncalves family had requested that the plea include specific conditions. They wanted a full confession and the recovery of the murder weapon — believed to be a KA-BAR-style hunting knife — which has never been found. Prosecutors declined the request, saying the accepted plea deal could not be changed ethically at this stage.
The family also said they were told more details of the case would be revealed at the sentencing hearing. Prosecutors presented a factual summary of the killings at Wednesday’s plea hearing, but promised more would come later.
Idaho law requires that families of violent crime victims be informed and involved in the plea process. However, the final decision rests with the state prosecutors, not with the families.
Other families supported the plea. The Chapin family, attending court for the first time since their son’s death, said they agreed with the plea bargain. The Mogen family also backed the decision. In a statement read after the hearing, they said it brings them “closure” and allows them to move forward.
They described Madison Mogen as a joyful and loving person, full of energy and promise. They expressed hope that this legal step would help them shift their focus from mourning to healing.
Kohberger’s own parents also attended the hearing. This was their first appearance in court with their son since his arrest in Pennsylvania in late 2022. The family released a statement asking for privacy and respect during this difficult time. They said they would let the legal process continue and show respect to everyone involved.
Kohberger’s sentencing will take place at a later date, where more details about the crime and his actions will be shared publicly. The court is expected to weigh the emotional impact on families as part of its final decision.
The Idaho student murders shocked the nation and drew global media attention. With the plea now entered, many hope the focus will shift to justice and healing for those left behind.
